Wildflowers

EPILOGUE- in this one, everything ends well

ALEXANDRA'S POV:

On the third of September, I get a phone call that I'll never be able to forget.

It feels like the war might be over, I still feel all the world's weight on my shoulders, I'm still standing on that warpath, ashes in the air and the dust staining my cheeks.

So, when the first week of September is behind us, I return home to Henley. My father is finally gone, prisoned for at least 30 years, I can breathe freely after all this time.

He can't hurt me anymore, he can't hurt my family, my mother, my siblings.

When October hits, I get my nipples pierced, just because I feel like it. So freaking swaggy of me, I know. 

Just like it's Halloween, time for spookiness and big scary costumes, it's the downfall of us, me and Myles.

I cry in a hidden corner of the house, hoping no one would find me. Myles stormed out, hot-headed and crying, hurt because I hurt.

I hate myself for victimizing myself, but it might all be my fault. I'm the anxious one, overthinking everything at times, my brain creating problems that aren't there.

Every relationship has issues and downsides, that's just the way it is.

But they find me, and I feel embarrassed. I sob into Camryn's chest while Cassian rubs my back.

We get better.

But when Christmas comes around, by the time Camryn had forced us all to decorate the house, so it looks all festive and shit. 

I never liked Christmas. The time of cheerfulness and gratefulness and happiness, coziness and love, and warmth, was always cold and sharp for me. It was dull and lonely. Yes, I had sat with my family, but I felt nothing. We ate potato salad and drank wine, but it felt empty and suffocating.

This year I spent two days with my mother and siblings, and the other days of Christmas time I was at the house- dinner with my fellas, presents, and singing songs millions of years old.

'Last Christmas' will ALWAYS be my favorite, the best one.

This Christmas is full of laughter and lights and hugs and warmth, my heart feels full, I deserved it, I dreamt of it. 

When the fireworks go off and I and Myles share a new-year kiss, we have a little party at the house.

Myles takes me to a spot where there are a lot of lights, the weather is cold, but I feel warm inside. Myles is with me.

Some fireworks are still booming in the distance and the view in front of us is breathtaking.

"Alex," Myles takes my hand and smiles softly, "I wanted to tell you..."

He hesitates, looking me in the eyes. His eyes are filling with tears, and I feel it coming. He continues. "You're it, Alex. You're my person"

I take a deep breath, words failing me once again. I kiss away a teardrop running down his face.

"I love you," he says and it's the best thing I have ever heard.

"I love you. You have been my lover and my best friend for quite a while now. I want to spend this new year with you, and so many more years after that."

I press my lips together, my eyes also letting the tears fall. I don't want to sob right now.

I sigh deeply, biting into my lip as I tilt my head. "I love you, Myles. So very much"

And I do.

I do.

Myles is my person.

Myles is my home and I'm his.

This is it. That's it.